2000 Best Practice Awards
Program and Geographical Winners: Rhode Island
Best Practice: Lead-Safe Rhode Island Campaign
Lead-Safe Rhode Island Campaign Helps Pay
the Cost of De-Leading Homes
Providence.
In three years, the Lead-Safe Rhode Island Campaign resulted in more than
600 lead-safe houses and apartments. To combat childhood lead poisoning,
the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation uses a $3 million
HUD Lead Hazard Control grant as the centerpiece of a campaign that has
raised more than $7,400,000 in cash and in-kind services. In addition, the
campaign enables income-eligible homeowners and landlords to cover the cost
of lead abatement by offering deferred-payment loans, which do not have
to be repaid as long as they continue to own the property. This program
works in partnership with the Health Care Financing Administration, which
uses Medicare reimbursement funds to underwrite the cost of window replacement.
This partnership is the first of its kind, and will be used as a national
model by the Health Care Financing Administration. The Lead-Safe Rhode Island
Campaign can be used as a model to make other communities lead-safe.
Contact: Chris Barnett, Phone: (401) 457-1219
Tracking Number: 2735
Winning Category: Program (Office of Lead Hazard Control)
Best Practice: PHA Volunteers in Action
Volunteer Group Sparks Community Service
Among Public Housing Residents
Providence. PHA
Volunteers in Action is a collaboration between the Providence Housing Authority
and the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island which work together to increase
resident participation in their communities. The goal of this program, which
began in 1999, is to provide opportunities for public housing residents
to participate in monthly community service projects. The programs
48 volunteers supervise youth program participants, conduct community outreach
and provide other forms of assistance. These volunteers have completed nearly
1,900 hours of community service in their neighborhoods.
Contact: Stephen J. ORourke, Phone:
(401) 4571-6400 Ext. 1101
Tracking Number: 2209
Winning Category: Program (Public and Indian Housing)
Best Practice: Help at Home
Help at Home Extends Independent Living
by Providing Seniors with In-Home Assistance
Coventry.
The Help at Home Program provides assisted living services to residents
in their own homes, including three meals a day, medication monitoring,
wellness and health intervention and education, personal care assistance,
transportation, day care, friendly visitor, case management and a caregiver
support group. The Coventry Housing Authority recognized a need for a wide
range of social services for elderly residents to prolong their ability
to live independently. The Help at Home Program was designed to forestall
or prevent nursing home placement and to decrease the need for hospitalizations,
as well as to prolong physical and social independence. The elderly and
disabled residents who participate are healthier, more secure and more engaged
in activities. The program relies upon an enhanced Resident Service Coordinator
model. The coordinator develops alliances and agreements with community
service providers of assisted living services. Food service is provided
through community resources and supported by a volunteer network. The program
is funded through a budget of only $23,000.
Contact: Jacquelyne T. Lusardi, Phone: (401)
828-4367
Tracking Number: 121
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: World of Work Plus
Comprehensive Employment Training Program
Helps Clients Prepare for Work
Providence. World
of Work Plus services help Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF),
Section 8 and public housing recipients find stable employment. The program
offers case management services, a six-week job readiness program in English
and Spanish, community work experience, job placement and retention services,
and adult education services. The program also provides customers with the
ability to interface with the state TANF agency. Furthermore, customers
can access up to $750 to purchase items that will help them obtain and retain
employment. In less than one year, the program has had marked success. Since
1999, World of Work Plus has operated several offices where customers can
receive services. It placed 24 individuals in paid employment, 32 individuals
received educational assessment and 32 received their General Equivalency
Diploma. This program is the result of a partnership between the Providence
Housing Authority, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Providence/Cranston
Job Training Partnership Administration (now the Providence/Cranston Workforce
Investment Office), Job Link Inc., and the Rhode Island Department of Human
Services.
Contact: Stephen J. ORourke, Phone:
(401) 751-6400 Ext. 1101
Tracking Number: 2155
Winning Category: Geographical
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